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Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Dec 10th, 2023–Dec 11th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Inland, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, North Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Continue to use caution at all elevations. We are uncertain of the reactivity of buried surface oar.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

No recent avalanches have been reported.

If you do go into the backcountry, consider submitting a Mountain Information Network report.

Snowpack Summary

Up to 30 cm of recent storm snow has been redistributed by variable winds. This new snow will overlie a layer of surface hoar at 1200 m, below this elevation it overlies a crust.

Another surface hoar layer is down 40 to 60 cm. This layer could exist on all aspects and at all elevations.

In general, the snowpack is still shallow for this time of year with snowpack depths at treeline ranging from 50 to 100 cm. Early season hazards are still a concern.

Weather Summary

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy with trace amounts of new snow possible, southerly alpine wind 10 to 25 km/h, treeline temperature -6°C.

Monday

A mix of sun and cloud with no new snow expected, southwest alpine wind 15 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -1°C.

Tuesday

Mostly cloudy with a few centimeters of new snow possible, south alpine wind 40 to 70 km/h, freezing level rising to 1400 m.

Wednesday

Cloudy with up to 5 cm of new snow expected, southwest alpine wind 30 to 60 km/h, freezing level falling to 700 m

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Carefully assess open slopes and convex rolls where buried surface hoar may be preserved.
  • Be careful with wind slabs, especially in steep, unsupported and/or convex terrain features.
  • Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
  • If triggered, wind slabs avalanches may step down to deeper layers resulting in larger avalanches.

Problems

Persistent Slabs

Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab.

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.